Nonlinear Control in Theoretical Neuroscience

This project will exploit and extend recently developed modelling frameworks to understand how the nervous system regulates information processing by selective modulation of positive feedback in neural circuits. A hallmark of this feedback is coherent oscillations across brain areas, which are readily detectable in animals and humans and currently lack an explanation. We will use cutting-edge tools from nonlinear control, computational modelling and biological data analysis to build neural circuit models that use these biological mechanisms to flexibly control computations at the cellular and circuit level. We will use these tools to understand how the nervous system makes computations robust to noise and other unavoidable perturbations.